Biography

 

Christopher Griffin

 

Artist Statement

In my extensive travels, language barriers have kept me from completely understanding new and foreign cultures and landscapes. This barrier has forced me to rely on visual cues and impressions to form my perceptions. As a result, I am able to re-examine my own society, environment and culture.

My recent journey to West Papua, Indonesia on the island of Papua New Guinea has been the most inspiring. As one of the last pristine environments left on earth, the Papuans offer a glimpse of what it means to be human: self sufficient, independent and free from the pressures of modern life. Sadly, this celebration of early man will disappear in our lifetime, directly because of outside influence.

The Papuans do not live in fear of their natural world. They drink from the rivers, breathe the air and eat food from the soil with no trepidation. In contrast, we of the western world are living with increasing fear of these basic necessities of life as we ourselves are poisoning them. Air, water, earth. We disregard and disrespect these building blocks of life at our own peril.

This exposure to a spiritual, fundamental existence has caused me to re-examine my own work. I have become more involved in the actual process of creating. I am allowing the accidental and unconscious to guide my work. I am having fun. Although, warning signals of impending environmental and cultural loss are hinted at or fully exposed in my paintings, this does not clash with the joy of creating and the joy of living. My intent is not to jump on a soap box, nor to ignore our grave global dilemmas, but to be able to communicate to the viewer just enough to allow them to come to their own similar interpretations.

 

EXHIBITIONS

2002   “Basic Stance”, Trias Gallery Toronto, Ontario

2001   Ottawa Art Gallery Art Rental and Sales  Ottawa, Ontario

2001  “Grid”, Robet Langen Galllery Wilfrid Laurier University Waterloo, Ontario

2000   “Vessel”, Arcturus Gallery Toronto, Ontario

2000   “Raven”, KOR Gallery Kitchener, Ontario

2000  “Ten Dead Birds”, Rotunda Gallery Kitchener City Hall, Kitchener, Ontario

2000  “Irian Jaya”, Cambridge Library & Gallery, Cambridge, Ontario

1999  “Mamberamo”, Esther Prangley Rice Gallery Western Maryland College, Maryland

1999   “Mamberamo”, 431 King Street West Toronto, Ontario

1998  “Symvolika”,  Oseredok Ukranian Cultural Center Winnipeg, Manitoba

1997  “Newfoundland Shore”, Network Gallery, First Canadian Place, Toronto, Ontario

1997   “Selo”, Ukranian Canadian Art Foundation, Toronto, Ontario

1996  “People of Honduras and Guatemala”, Queen’s Quay Gallery Toronto, Ontario

1995  El Sitio Gallery Antigua, Guatemala

1995  Municipalidad Centro Trujillo, Honduras

1995  Island Mountain Gallery, Wells, British Columbia

1994  Homer Watson Gallery, Kitchener, Ontario

1993   Erin Johnson Denver, Colorado

1993   Here & Now Gallery Toronto, Ontario

 

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2003  Small Works Trinity Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia

2000  Kitchener- Waterloo Art Gallery, Kitchener, Ontario

1999  Trinity Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia

1999  Ontario Society of Artists John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto, Ontario

1995  Insights Exhibition Elora, Ontario

1994  Society of Canadian Artists John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto, Ontario

1993  Mississauga City Hall, Mississauga, Ontario

1993  Etobicoke City Hall Etobicoke, Ontario

PUBLIC ART COMMISSION

2000  Millennium Thumbprints Bronze Sculpture City of Kitchener, City Hall

GRANTS AND AWARDS

2000  Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance Grant

1999  Main Street Ontario Millennium Grant

1999  Gallery Arcturus Exhibition Award, Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition

 

GALLERY REPRESENTATION

Trinity Gallery, Atlanta Georgia

Trias Gallery, Toronto, Ontario

Whistler Art Galleries, Whistler B.C.

Deloney Newkirk Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Harbinger Gallery, Waterloo, Ontario

Or visit his web site at: www.christophergriffin.ca